Karen Conner of Kuentz Elementary focuses on robotics and coding in her classroom, and is a hit with her students for the fun she brings to the classroom.
HELOTES, Texas — A Northside ISD STEM teacher at Kuentz Elementary School wins the KENS 5 EXCEL Award.
Karen Conner is teaching her students to love everything that STEM encompasses.
With 25 years in the classroom under her belt, it’s no surprise that she was chosen as an outstanding teacher!
Conner focuses on STEM in the classroom, even starting the first STEM lab at Kuentz Elementary School.
“We focus on the four Cs So creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication,” Conner said. “And we work in engineering design process, so they learn how to fail forward and not to be afraid of failure.”
Conner also exposes her students to STEM careers so her students can become familiar with the opportunities out there.
Students had nothing but praise for their STEM teacher, who loves to be hands on with her kids.
“She’s funny. She’s kind,” Adaline Fluitte said.
Conner also known for dressing up in fun ways.
“I like when she dresses up,” Asher Hovda said.
“I just love to dress up day,” Conner expressed. “I could just wear a shirt, but I think the kids really like it when I go all out. …it just makes things more fun.”
Mrs. Conner says she doesn’t exactly know what she will do with the $2,000 gifted to her by our partners at Credit Human.
Conner does have a son in the Army, and says she may use the money to go and visit her son where he is stationed.